Microsoft has rarely delivered a Windows version on time, but with the possible exception of Windows Me, each of the upgrades to the operating system has been a clear improvement over its predecessor. Here's a look back at our takes:

Windows 1.0

"Most industry watchers, this writer among them, declared Microsoft Windows stillborn the day IBM rolled out Top View. . . . In order to make Windows a big winner, Microsoft must convince software developers, including its own colleagues, to build Windows-based applications. This will be easier every day as the word gets out."

"The most-improved-where-it-counts-the-most award must surely go to Windows 2.0. While Windows 1.0 certainly showed us the promised land of consolidated video and output device drivers, it left a lot to be desired in the speed department. It also had some user interface inconsistencies. . . . Windows 2.0 corrects all these flaws and has enough new features left over to make it a strong graphical platform for DOS."

"Microsoft Windows/386 is the operating environment that doesn't have to apologize for anything. It delivers everything that today's users want: multitasking, graphics, interprogram communications, and multiple windows. . . . Best of all, it can run existing [DOS] applications inside graphics windows (or give them the whole screen), and it gives each a full 640KB of memory. Windows/386 is an eloquent answer to the question, 'What do I need an 80386 for?'"

The Editors (January 12, 1988)

Minimum requirements: 80386 processor, 1MB RAM, and DOS 3.1 or above.

Windows 3.0

"A funny thing's happening on the road to OS/2. Microsoft Windows has turned into the dazzling multitasking operating system that OS/2 is still struggling to become. . . . This upgrade has raised talk of trouble for Apple and NeXT, and it's not hard to see why."

Gus Venditto (July 1990)

Minimum requirements: 80286-based PC: 640KB RAM, one floppy drive, and a hard drive. 80386-based PC: 1024KB of extended memory to take advantage of the 386 Enhanced mode, MS-DOS version 3.1 or higher.

Windows 3.1

"Windows 3.1 is better than 3.0 for a wide variety of reasons. The abolition of UAEs (Unrecoverable Application Errors), the arrival of OLE (Object Linking and Embedding), the WYSIWYG printing, the TrueType fonts, the new File Manager, and the multimedia features all are good reasons to upgrade."

Bill Bettini, Matthew J. Ross, and Don Willmott (April 28, 1992)

Minimum requirements: Same as Windows 3.0.

Windows NT 3.1

"Windows NT is a 32-bit operating system every inch of the way. . . . Some advanced featuressuch as NT's scalability, built-in networking, high-level security, fault tolerance, performance monitoring and management tools, and its interface to major networking and mainframe standardsmake NT a clear case of overkill for most desktop PCs."

Rick Ayre and Robin Raskin (September 28, 1993)

Minimum requirements: 80386 processor or later, 8MB RAM.

Windows 95

"If you're used to Windows 3.1, you'll find that performing basic file management from the desktop by dragging and dropping file icons takes some getting used to. But you'll soon notice how much power this UI can offer. For example, a single icon called My Computer provides access to your drives (and all the files they contain), the Control Panel, your printers, and dial-up networking options."

Michael J. Miller (May 16, 1995)

Minimum requirements: 80386 processor or later, 4MB RAM.

Windows 98

"We've been hearing about Windows 98 for a long time, ever since it was supposed to be Windows 97. . . . Microsoft has delivered on the bulk of the features promised for the new OS. This includes the controversial extensive integration of Internet Explorer. . . . For new systems, Windows 98 is likely to be a nice improvementone that should allow for a more stable OS, faster performance in some cases, and better support for new hardware."

Michael J. Miller (August 1998)

Minimum requirements: 80486DX/66 MHz or faster processor, 16MB RAM.

Windows NT 4.0

"Originally, Windows NT was envisioned to be an 'equal opportunity' operating system that could run other operating system applications as easily as its own. But now that the Win32 API has assumed center stage, Windows NT has been optimized to run Win32 applications faster than ever before. . . . It apparently does so without compromising the qualities that made Windows NT famous. All things considered, its users could hardly ask for more."

Jeff Prosise (September 24, 1996)

Minimum requirements: Pentium processor, 16MB RAM.

Windows 2000

"Windows 2000 Professional, the desktop part of Windows 2000, is more stable, more secure, and easier to use than Windows NT 4 Workstation. It's not an obvious upgrade for every system, but medium-size and large enterprises should strongly consider Windows 2000 Professional for new systems. And unlike Windows NT 4, Windows 2000 Professional is a great notebook OS. For the average home or home-office useror the less savvy small-business userWindows 2000 Professional is still a little too large and too complex compared with Windows 98."

Larry Seltzer (February 22, 2000)

Minimum requirements: Pentium/150 MHz or higher, 32MB RAM.

Windows Me

"The name says it all. Microsoft Windows Meshort for Millennium Editionis designed for individual home users, not for business. . . . Windows Me is the most radical upgrade yet in the Windows 9x family. . . . Should you upgrade an existing machine? Most users will upgrade without problems, but if your system includes cutting-edge broadband and firewall software designed for the Windows 9x TCP/IP stack, you may be in for trouble."

Edward Mendelson (September 1, 2000)

Minimum requirements: Pentium/233 MHz, 128MB RAM.

Windows XP

"Windows XP combines Windows 98's and Me's aptitude for running games and legacy hardware with Windows 2000's more stable and manageable kernel. . . . But Windows XP is also proving to be a rather controversial upgrade. It includes featureslike an improved media player, built-in instant messaging, direct support for recordable optical drives, strong integration with Microsoft's Web-authentication service Passport, and links to other Microsoft Web servicesthat raise new concerns about competition and what should and should not be included in an operating system."

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